The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-10
THE USES OF IRRIGATION.
WHAT IT Has ACCOM Ps.isH Ed
FOR CALIFORNIA.
The Greatest whey ard on Earth
Established on what Was once
nm Arid Plain.

Chico (Cal.) Enterprise: There
has been great deal written about
Senator IStanford's immense ranch
at Vina, but the only way to get an
adequate idea of it is to pay the place
a visit. Stanford's ranch begins at
the Tahama county line, and the first
view one gets Of his land is not pre-
possessing. 1t is nothing but bar
rem, treeless plain, where the bed
rock crops out in spots aud every
where lies but few feet beneath the
surface. Nothing will grow there
except short, dry weed, but the
sheep like this weed, and the plain
is therefore one vast sheep range, for
Senator Stanford is man Of varied
resources, and manages 10 find use
for all the land he owns.
As you approach Vina the aspect
OF the coun ry suddenly changes,
and you jump from sunburned plains
into the midst OF green alfalfa fields
and vineyards. The former are made
productive by frequent flooding from
irrigating bitches. This flooding il
good for the soil, but bad for health,
aud il it makes alfalfa, it also makes
malaria. The water is brought in
bitches from Deer Creek aud turned
into the fields until il stands in a
vast lake. As soon as one crop OF
alfalfa is cut another is raised in this
way all the year round. Ii is used
very extensively for sto,k in place
Of hay.
But the vineyard is the wonderful
feature OF the Stanford ranch. Ii
extends for several miles up aud
down on each side Of the road as you
approach Vina, aud back from the
road as far as the eye eau reach. In
some places the vines are large, in
others they have just been set out,
and in the latter case they are sup.
ported by an array of stakes. This
vineyard contains $500 acres, aud il
the largest in the world, but still the
Senator is not satisfied, and proposes
TO have 5000 acres. More vines are
being set out every year. The pref.
tiest sight OF all are the old Greek
vines, which form the nucleus OF Sen.
ator Stanfords vineyard. Thes,
vines are all old and stand fully Eve
feet high. The trunks are larger
than a mans arm. The branches ar,
trimmed OF at the bottom aud al
lowed TO grow out at the top, until
the vineyard looks like au orchard OF
young peach trees, aud they are all
pruned of so evenly that they max,
one level floor Of green IA the ey,
glauces across them.
The vines already in bearin,
require the attention o, scv.
eral hundred meu to take car,
Of the grapes they produce. and Il
will take a small army Of men to at
tend the crop each year whoh all III,
vines get to bearing. The winerl
already in use in the ranch il larg,
building, but now Senator Stanfor,
is having a brick structure erecte,
which covers two acres. The wall
are already NJ, aud lao pillars ar,
being erected tJ support the roof
The building is TO hold the wine vat,
aud casks, aud is a sort Of wine celia
above ground. ID is Of mammoth
proportions, but 80 is the vineyard
aud 80 will the crop Of grapes be.
De could talk about the vinegar,
and winery all day, but here ar
other things 10 be mentioned. Mex
to his vines, in Senator Stanford
esteem, come his fine horses. q
these there are large bands To be seen
all beauties aud VI the best blood
The Senator makes a specially o
raising fast horses, which he sells 10
fancy figures Every animal i
spirited, beautifully proportions,
aud looks sleek and smooth. Tn
two stations 10 which he breeds al
his mares are Clay and Whips. Tn
former the Senator values at tl0, OOl
Clay is a rather small brown hors,
kind and gentle in disposition
Whips is a foe large bay, full OF liz
aud beautifully built. Iu fact, III
Senator considers Whips the ideal O
horseaesh aud beyond price. Tn
animal was expected 70 make YER
fast time, hut was famed in his earl
training at Palo Alto aud hence
used only for breeding pur
poses. Several fine horses hay
been lamod lately on Ia
Palo Alto track, which Is c)nsidere,
too hard, and the Senator intends /
build n training track on his Vim
rancho. Negotiations are now i
progress for the purchase Of Oh
Copeland estate, which adjoins San
ford on the west, next 10 the river
aud when these negotiations are com
plcted the track will probably b
built on this land. Then all Of III
fine stock will be brought TO Vim,
which will be made headquarter
for the training department.
, The nine large barns Tor the horse,
which are made AZ comfortable a
! most dwellings, the barns where IN
Holsteins have their quarters, keT
a. neat as n parlor; those foe oil
/ Holstcin cattle themselves Of mon
: strous size aud beautifully marke
in black and white; one COW 10 PAL
ticular which IL being fattened 10
beet, 10 weigh 300 pounds, an
! which now weighs nearly 300, Sen
ator Staniords handsome two. slor
residence, with lis extensive lawn
flower gardens and statuary-all {
these things attract the attentio
aud excite the interest Of the stran
ger. But, then, everything abou
this great ranch is OF interest, an
after the visitor has spent the da
in examining the different featur,
he still feels how little he ha
seen. The rauoh is one OF the Won
ders Of this wonderful State.
s sa
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